I have a problem with hard boiled eggs........

[Noel]

.......not cooking or eating them, but PEELING them. The shell comes off with pieces of egg attached. I used to be able to peel them easily, but I guess I forgot.

I used to take them out of the pan when done; crack the shells all over and add cold water and leave them alone for awhile. Worked fine...I thought. No more. What method do you use to get an easy peeled HBE?

Does the age of the egg have anything to do with it? There is a thin membrane between the shell and egg. Is this the culprit ?

Thanks

[jnharley]

We have tried most of these methods with poor results. Most store purchased eggs are already old. I am going to try the water in the glass method.

[kmbelt]

Use this method

[Dog_Folks]

BB_TX wrote:
I bring the water to a boil, lower the eggs into the boiling water, boil 10 minutes, remove from heat and let set 5 minutes, pour out hot water and fill pan with cold water, wait a couple minutes, remove and crack the egg while still slightly warm and massage it to fracture the shell all around (rolling on the counter would work also), and peel. Almost always comes off very easily. And it does not seem to matter whether they are fresh eggs or older ones.

When I was as cook, and had to peel lots of eggs, with practice, the above method always worked well.

[Dennis_Henderso]

I feel your pain. For years I had no problem peeling hard boiled eggs and then I was lucky to get 1 usable egg out of a dozen. The shell stuck to the membrane and tore the eggs apart no matter what method I used or how fresh or old the eggs were.

And then a friend sent me this link "No Fail Boiled Eggs--Perfect Every Time" and I have had 100% success since then.

Be sure to follow the instructions "EGGS-actly."

Cindy and Denny Henderson
fulltiming, currently at Yogi Bear Jellystone Park in Natural Bridge Station, VA

[Roadpilot]

My wife and I tried everything. Nothing solved the problem. Even eggs from the same container, of the same age peeled differently.

Then we bought this $12 microwave hard boiled egg cooker. It hardballs them perfectly every time and they're easy to peel.

Egg cooker

[NYCgrrl]

I have to say I'm always amazed how this question comes up on most every cooking forum I've ever visited:D. I think the only other egg question as popular is how to actually make a hard boiled egg.

This method has worked for me since I was a little girl and couldn't even cook Mrs. Paul's fish sticks properly. Wonder if Mrs. Paul's even still exists? Digression over.

Start at the pointy tip of the egg and peel under cold running water. Works for me whether peeled while still warm or straight from the fridge where I keep them in a bowl of water.

[wra]

After boiling the eggs, quickly emerse them in cold spicket tap water. You do not have to do any special crackin, rolling or need ice. The rapid change of tempature will make the shell seperate from the inner egg. Just crack and shell. Has worked for me for well over 50 years, no matter the elevation.

[Wishbone51]

Also peel under running water.

[Johno02]

My name is Noel (also), and I can't peel an egg either!

[YC_1]

Once boiled pour the hot water off and immediately run cold water in the pan and add ice. In a short time reach into the water and tap the egg all over and keep it in the water. Grab another egg and repeat until all of the eggs have their shells shattered. Now grab one and squeeze it but don't squash it. You should feel the egg come loose inside the shell. It will begin slipping around inside the membrane. You can even act like you are rolling a meatball. Now you can tear the shell off easily. Just release the egg and shell back into the water until done. The water can be a great benefit when you first start removing the shell by getting between the membrane and the shell.

[BB_TX]

I bring the water to a boil, lower the eggs into the boiling water, boil 10 minutes, remove from heat and let set 5 minutes, pour out hot water and fill pan with cold water, wait a couple minutes, remove and crack the egg while still slightly warm and massage it to fracture the shell all around (rolling on the counter would work also), and peel. Almost always comes off very easily. And it does not seem to matter whether they are fresh eggs or older ones.

[buta4]

True story follows:

MANY years ago I had 60 Rhode Island Reds. One evening after work we had gathered in the local gin mill to raise a few. At one point I was asked how many eggs a day does one of them lay.

I answered roughly 3 eggs every two days, which averages out to one and one-half eggs each day.

One of the guys had a little rip in his marble bag at that point of imbibing because then he asked me ....
'Wait a minute. How the hell does a chicken lay half an egg?'

The table erupted into spilled beers and a lot of choking after that one!

TRUE!!

:S

[dave17352]

We bring the water to a boil then add the eggs for exactly 15 minutes at a simmer. Then remove to sink run cold water on them just long enough to peel. Seems to work perfect every time. Well almost. I think over cooking and letting them sit to long both can lead to poor peeling. JMHO

[ccxnola]

All you need to do is roll the boiled egg on the counter to fracture the shell a bit.
Then put it into a glass 3/4 full of water. Cover with your hand and SHAKE vigorously for a minute and the egg will simply simply slip out of the shell!!
Works every time!!!

[obgraham]

Knock the egg on the counter, roll it to shred the shell, then pull the two shell sides off. The membrane comes along and holds the fragments together.

It's a thing of beauty when it works!